Frank j



`(No Model.)

F. J. ROTH.

STEAM ENGINE. No. 271,741. Patented Peb. 6, 1883.

F1G.l. FIGHR..

@siren Sterns afi-ENT irren.

FRANK J. ROTH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONHALF TO JOHN KAUFFMAN, F SAME PLACE.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,741, dated February 6, 1883.

` Appnanfm nien october 9, lese. (No modela Improvements in Steam-Engines, of which the y following is a specitication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In my improved engine the cylinder oscillates either from the upper or lower end, and has a convex head that plays withina concave seat in the bed-plate, said head and seat being provided with suitable ports to admit and exhaust the steam which acts on the piston only while the latter is receding from said head, thereby dispensing with a' special valve or other contrivance for governing the motion ot the engine, as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in-the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of one form ot myimproved oscillating steam-engine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged axial section through the bearings of one ofthe cylinders of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation ot' a modiiication ofthe engine. Fig. 4 is an enlarged axial section through the bearings of one ofthe cylinders of said modified construction.

In order to render my engine as compact as 3o possible, and to simplify its construction, I pre` fer casting the bed-plate A with two separate channels, B and G, for the live and exhaust steam, respectively, said channels heingscrewthreaded to admit the necessary pipe-connec tions at either end or in the center, as may be most convenient. Furthermore, this bed-plate has a concave seat or bearing, I), to receive the convex head E ot' cylinder F, which head may be screwed or bolted to said cylinder, as

4o seen in Fig. 2; orit may be integral therewith, as represented in Fig. 4'; or said head may be otherwise applied to the steam-cylinder, but in every case it must be pierced or slotted at cto communicate alternately with the inlet-port b and exhaust-port c. Fitting snugly around cylinderF is another head, G, the spherical or crowning portion of which is of the same radius as the concave head E, previously alluded to. The inner end ot' head G is chambered at 5o o to admit suitable packing, H, the latter being held in position by an ordinary gland, I.

J is a helical spring, surrounding the cylin. der F and interposed between the head E and said gland I., The crowning portion of head -G plays within a suitable bearing, K, at one would be necessary to employ at least two cyl- 65 inders to secure a regular motion. A better construction, however, would be afforded by using three cylinders, as seen at F F F in Fig. l, the cranks a a' a'fbeing disposed atangles ot one hundred and twenty degrees with 7o reference to each other. These cylinders would of course have their respective heads G G' G, pistons N N N, housings L L' L, and would in every other respect be identical with the construction seen in Fig. 2. In fact, all these .75 parts ofthe engine are made from one set ot' patterns and are interchangeable.

When either cylinderis in the position seen in Fig. 4 steam enters the same through the coincident ports b c, thereby driving thepiston 8o away from head E; but as soon said piston com pletesits stroke the rotation of the flywheel shalt causes said cylinderto oscillate or swing over to an opposite position. Consequently the cylinder-port c is now in communication with the exhaust-port c, and allows the steam from said cylinder to be discharged through the channel G.

It is evident that three cylinders arranged in the manner just described will insure the 9o utmost uniformity of motion and without caus# 'inga great amount of wear; but any playof the parts is automatically taken up by the coiled spring' J, which has a constant tendency to force the heads E and G away from each other. By simply elevating the housing L ready access will be had to all the working parts, either for inspection or repairs or for packing the stut'tingbox g.

In the construction seen in Figs. l and 2, the roo concave seat D is located above the bed-plate A; but in Fig. 4 said seat is shown sunk below thelevel ofsaid'plate. Thislatterarrangement is preferred, because it allows the bed-plate to l in Fig. el the head Gr bears against a ring, P,

itted between said head and an inwardlyprojecting flange,R, of the housing L. illustration, and also in Fig. 3, the cylinder has attached to it a dome-shaped hood, S, that incloses the housing L, and prevents dust, Src., entering the working parts ofthe engine.

A very cheap construction of the Yexigirle might dispense with stnfng-boxes at the outer ends of the cylinders F, as the length of bearing of pistons N will render them practically steam-tight; but such boxes may be applied, as shown at T T in Fig. 3.

In another modification the head Gr may be cast with the cylinder F, and the end ot' the latter be seated in a chamber ot' the convex head E. which head could have the stuffingboX-g H I applied thereto; or the cylinders may be inverted so as to constitute a pendulons engine, in which event the channels B C and seat D would be formed in the supportingframe. Finally, whichever construction is In this adopted, it will be seen that the pierced head E e, in connection with the ports b cof seatD, obviates the necessity of valves of any kind for admitting steam into the cylinder and exhausting it therefrom.

I claim as my invention- 1 The combination, in an oscillating steamengine, of concave seat D, ports c b, convex head E c, cylinder F, and head G, which latter bears against the seat K ot' housing L, substantially as herein described.

2. In combinationwith an oscillating steamengine, having thc heads E eand G, arranged in the manner described, the helical spring J, interposed between the head E e and the gland I, for the purpose described.

3. In combination with an oscillating steamengine, the hood S, attached to the cylinder F, and inclosing the housing L and its attachments, as herein described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. ROTH.

Witnesses:

J AnEs H. LAYM-AN, SAME. S. CARPENTER. 

